Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 252

My father’s face twisted with contempt and hunger both. “My son is worth millions, do you think a few thousand will buy me off? Put me in the press and we’ll see who wins. They’ll surely pay more for what I have to say!”

William’s eyes narrowed to slits; the room chilled. He leaned in, voice a low, lethal hiss. “No, Mr. Blake. If you as much as think of interfering with this family again, I will make sure you’re gone. Permanently.”

The words landed with a weight that made the air thud. My father’s bravado faltered; the muscles in his face tightened like rope pulled

taut.

The guards moved without a word. Gentle at first, then firmer. They took hold of him and guided him to the door. At the threshold he spat one last line, something meant to wound, and then he was gone.

We stood in the room with the door closed. My father had not said a word to me, yet I was shaking so hard I could feel it down in my

bones.

William watched me with eyes that didn’t leave my face. There was no triumph in them–only a cold, practical concern. “Are you alright?”

he asked once, carefully.

For a second I only trembled. Then a new fear–older and sharper–snapped through me: my father wouldn’t stop at threats. He would go home and drink, and when he drank he hurt the people who were still tied to him. My mother. My sister. I could almost see it–glass and anger, the house folding into itself, the small things being smashed because one man wanted to prove he still mattered. The thought

made bile rise in my throat.

“I should go after him,” I said, the words raw and sudden. “I should- I can stop him before he hurts my family. I can-”

William’s hand came down on mine, steady and decisive, and it felt like being held in place by iron. His eyes were hard but not unkind.

“No,” he said, quietly. “You do not go after him. If you do, you hand him what he wants–attention, leverage, chaos. Let me handle it.”

I wanted to argue. I wanted to say he didn’t know what my dad could do if I didn’t try to stop him. But the truth was smaller and meaner:

I didn’t know if I could protect them. I never could before. The shame of that nearly undid me.

William’s voice lowered further, the words wrapped in an offer as old as power. “Listen to me. I told you once. Reject me, betray me, and I

will make you pay for it. I will make your life hell. But join me, honor me, and I will take care of you as my own. I will keep your family

safe. I give you my word.”

William’s look was patient but final. “You have nothing to worry about… Son.”

For a beat the words calmed me down. But then a colder thought cut through the flicker of relief: what did I have left to worry about? My

life had already been hollowed out. I had no future I could honestly call my own anymore; no freedom, and I had lost the man I loved to

someone else.William’s look was patient but final. “You have nothing to worry about… Son.”

Maybe he was right. Maybe there really wasn’t anything left to worry about. My life wasn’t mine anymore. My future was already decided.

I had already lost the only person I had ever loved. So what was there left to protect except the people back home?

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Maybe I should finally confront my father–once and for all. Go back. Stand in front of him. Fight him. End it. Let him do what he always wanted to do. Let him kill me and go to prison for life. At least then my mother and sister would be free. At least then someone would be

safe.

Maybe that was the only thing I had left to give anybody.